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| Southeast Asia |
| Access sought to eight Philippine military bases |
| 2015-04-27 |
| [Gulf Today] The United States seeks access to at least eight Philippine military bases where it could deploy on a "rotational basis" sophisticated destroyers and bombers, a senior military official has confirmed. Armed Forces chief General Gregorio Pio Catapang said the U.S. formally submitted its request during a recent meeting of the Mutual Defense Board attended by representatives of both countries. He noted the request came during a period of military expansion by China. Of the eight bases, four are located on Luzon, two in Cebu province in the Visayas in Central Philippines and two on the island province of Palawan near the Spratly island group which is claimed in part or in whole by China as well as the Philippines and three of its fellow ASEAN members; Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam. Catapang said the Philippine government could not yet act on the American request pending a decision from the Supreme Court on several petitions that questioned the legality and constitutionality of the Enhanced Defense Co-operation Agreement (EDCA), signed during Obama's visit in January 2014. He said, "If we formalize (the request) now, and they start building up structures and the SC declares EDCA unconstitutional, they will have to destroy the structures." |
| Posted by:ryuge |
| #6 Again, I have been told that there are many Chuukese here on Guam and back in Chuuk whom desire to align Chuuk State wid CHINA iff the latter votes for de facto independence from the FSM + the US doesn't help them. A DEFINITE OPPORTUNITY FOR CHINA + PLA TO "LEAP-FROG" GREATLY FROM CHINA'S COASTS IN EAST ASIA + CHINA SEAS, DIRECTLY INTO THE CENTRAL PACIFIC + CHINA'S DESIRED "LINE OF DEMARCATION" SEPARATING THE CHINA-US "SPHERES OF INFLUENCE" [1/2 ea. of POAS]. Also makes Beijing's recovery of TAIWAN = PLA CENTCOM that much more important, NOT less, to the former's MilPol/Geopol agenda. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2015-04-27 21:35 |
| #5 ION RELATED-BUT-NOT-PER-THE-PHILIPPINES ... * JAPAN TIMES > US-JAPAN ANNOUNCE NEW DEFENSE GUILDELINES FOR [new = greater] GLOBAL JAPANESE ROLE. * WORLD MILITARY FORUM > US-JAPAN MILITARY ALLIANCE AT CRITICAL TURNING POINT. ALTHOUGH JAPAN REMAINS ONE OF THE CLOSEST US ALLIES, SOME OF JAPAN'S ACTIONS MAY WORRY WASHINGTON. And vice-versa. To wit ... VERSUS * TOPIX > [Reuters] HOW FAR IS JAPAN WILLING TO GO TO BACK THE UNITED STATES? | JAPAN WEIGHING TO BECOME A MAJOR [Regional = Global?] PACIFIC POWER AGAIN. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2015-04-27 20:56 |
| #4 Jolo's is gone; no reason to go back to Cubi Point now....... |
| Posted by: USN, Ret. 2015-04-27 14:05 |
| #3 Let the chinese have the PI. Serve the forkers right. |
| Posted by: Unonter Bluetooth3165 2015-04-27 10:38 |
| #2 Anyone get wind of any pending barbershop contracts, ring me up please. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2015-04-27 09:39 |
| #1 There's that little Philippine Constitutional thingy. How's that 'Blame the Yankee' thingy working for you now? |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2015-04-27 09:32 |